The Video Game Literate

Age of Empires II, most commonly referred to as Age of Empires 2, is a real-time strategy (RTS) video game praised for its uniqueness and played by thousands of players around the world. The Age of Empires franchise has often been a fan-favorite franchise for players who enjoy strategy video games. Among the Age of Empires video games, one of the most popular is Age of Empires 2. Age of Empires 2 is widely known as a classic of the RTS video game subgenre. Since its initial release in 1999, Age of Empires II has received expansions, updates and new versions. Fans who have not yet played Age of Empires II for the first time, and strategy video game fans often wonder the differences between each version of this video game. In this article, these versions will be listed and explained. The Versions of Age of Empires 2 The versions of Age of Empires 2 are Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings, Age of Empires II Gold Edition, Age of Empires II: HD Edition and Age of Empires II: Definitive Edit...

Total War: Medieval II, previously known as Medieval II: Total War, is a turn-based strategy video game in which players take control of a faction and wage war in multiple fronts in order to conquer the most land. In Total War: Medieval II, strategy is of the upmost importance, and for this reason, especially depending on the chosen difficulty of the game, it is important to choose a faction. In Total War: Medieval 2, it is possible to play and win the game with any faction. However, new players and beginners may want to know what are the easiest factions to play, especially for unexperienced players in the Total War franchise. In this article, these beginner-friendly factions will be listed. It is important to mention that in Total War: Medieval 2, not all playable factions are available from the start. At the start of the game, only 5 factions are available: England, France, Holy Roman Empire, Spain and Venice. The other factions will be unlocked once the grand campaign is succesfull...

Kingdom is a franchise of strategy video games. While the Kingdom video games feature management and real-time strategy (RTS) elements, these games are known and easily recognized by their characteristic minimalistic pixel art visual style, and atmospheric soundtrack. While the different Kingdom video games feature the same characteristical gameplay, each Kingdom game provides a unique experience. In this article, I will compare the differences between Kingdom: Classic and Kingdom: New Lands, two games of the Kingdom franchise. Kingdom: Classic vs Kingdom: New Lands: Main Differences Between Kingdom: Classic and Kingdom: New Lands Kingdom: Classic and Kingdom: New Lands feature the same essential, core gameplay that the Kingdom games are known for: reaching a new and unknown land, turning peasants into subjects, subjects into builders and warriors, building a kingdom and fighting the menaces that come each night. While both Kingdom: Classic and Kingdom: New Lands feature this gameplay,...

Age of Mythology is a well-known real-time strategy (RTS) video game, praised for its unique setting. Age of Mythology (2002) was developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios. Unlike other RTS games that either take place in historical settings or in entirely fictional or sci-fi settings, Age of Mythology blends historical setting with mythical setting, with a unique take on the real-time strategy sub-genre. Age of Mythology is praised for its unique atmosphere and unique units. The myth unit is quite important in Age of Mythology. Although difficult to obtain, these units are usually quite powerful and can often turn the tide of battle in the game. They also provide unique gameplay elements, as each myth unit in Age of Mythology has a different ability. Although the titan is technically a myth unit in Age of Mythology, in this article I will not include titans in the list as they would necessarily be the best myth units. In this article, I decided not to inclu...

Crusader Kings II was developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive. Crusader Kings II, Crusader Kings 2, or CK2, features different succession laws. The most common available succession laws in CK2 are Gavelkind, Elective Gavelkind, Seniority, Primogeniture and Ultimogeniture. Each succession law characterizes a different succession process, with different results. It is important to consider all of these factors when deciding the best succession law, and these factors will be further explained in the article. Considering that Crusader Kings 2 is a strategy sandbox video game, in the sense that each playthrough is unique, there is not one succession law that is going to be the best option and strategy for all playthroughs. Instead, each succession law can be the most useful one in specific circumstances, and these circumstances will be explained. After reading this article, the player will be able to better identify the situations and circumstances in wh...

Command & Conquer is a franchise of real-time strategy (RTS) video games. Command & Conquer games present alternate realities, base building and multiple missions to complete. Command & Conquer video games are often considered classics of the RTS sub-genre, and are among the favorites of many strategy game fans and players around the world. What Are Command & Conquer Games Like? In general, Command & Conquer games feature typical RTS gameplay, including resource gathering, base building, recrutuing units and defeating enemies, across multiple missions. Command & Conquer games are set in an alternate reality, also called an alternate history. In Command & Conquer video games, players employ different technologies and strategies to accomplish specific objectives in order to progress through the multiple missions of each game. Command & Conquer games are classic RTS video games, and for this reason, contain many of the hallmarks of that sub-genre. Is There ...

Myth is a franchise of strategy video games. Myth games present a refreshing experience in the real-time strategy genre by featuring a focus on squad strategy rather than base building, resource gathering and training units. Due to their unique gameplay and immersive atmosphere, Myth games became a fan-favorite among strategy game fans. What Are Myth Games Like? In general, Myth video games are real-time strategy (RTS) games. Unlike other classic RTS games such as Age of Empires, Warcraft, Starcraft and Command & Conquer, Myth games typically do not offer base building, but rather focus on commanding a squad in order to accomplish certain objectives. Also unlike other classic RTS games, Myth games generally require of the player a more slow-paced, tactical strategy, whereas base-building RTS games typically require the player to build a base as fast as possible, collect resources and recruit an army. Considering their lack of base building, Myth games are not suggested for players ...

What Are Fire Emblem Games Like? Fire Emblem is a franchise of strategy role-playing video games, with multiple games released over the years, while retaining the core strategy role-playing gameplay for which the series has become known for. Over time, the Fire Emblem video games have set a new standard for the industry in the strategy RPG genre, and have become known across the world for their quality. Even more so, in some places of the world, the Fire Emblem franchise has become a synonym to its genre of video game, much like World of Warcraft has become a synonym to the MMORPG genre. Fire Emblem video games typically feature turn-based strategy gameplay, story rich narratives and permanent death of game characters. Due to the turn-based strategy elements as well as the permanent death of characters, Fire Emblem is often compared to XCOM. However, Fire Emblem games generally take place in a medieval fantasy setting, while XCOM games generally take place in a near-future sci-fi envir...

Warcraft is a franchise of video games that began with real-time strategy (RTS) games and eventually became known for its MMORPG, World of Warcraft. Warcraft games feature an immersive fantasy world filled with humans, elves, orcs, undead and other species, which often fight each other in large wars. Even though Warcraft games were critically acclaimed and successful real-time strategy games, the series eventually became more widely known for its MMORPG, and not for its RTS games, even though it achieved its initial popularity through the RTS video games. Perhaps it can be said that, while with the RTS video games Warcraft was widely known about strategy game fans, it was with the MMORPG World of Warcraft that Warcraft achieved mainstream success and popularity. What Are Warcraft Games Like? Most of the Warcraft video games are RTS games, with the exception of the MMORPG World of Warcraft and the card game Hearthstone. Like other RTS games of the 1990s and 2000s, Warcraft games feature...

The XCOM games, also referred to as X-COM, are known for their tactical, difficult and unforgiving gameplay. Over the years, the XCOM franchise has become a fan-favorite for strategy game fans. Indeed, the turn-based gameplay typically found in XCOM games, along with the sci-fi setting and atmosphere, build a unique gameplay experience that keeps bringing player back to the XCOM games. What some strategy fans may not know is that XCOM is one of the oldest strategy video game franchises. The first game in the XCOM series was released in 1994, and is called X-COM: UFO Defense, also known as UFO: Enemy Unknown. This game already featured some of the hallmarks the series would be known for: sci-fi atmosphere, tactical turn-based combat, base management and an unforgiving difficulty. These gameplay characteristics would remain to be seen in most of the other X-COM video games that were released thereafter. It is important to mention that, in the case of the XCOM series of video games, there...